ED Submits Supplementary Chargesheet in Land-for-Job Scam: Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav Among Accused
Patna, 6th August 2024: On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted a supplementary chargesheet in the land-for-job scam case, which names former railway minister Lalu Prasad, his son Tejashwi Yadav, and others. The chargesheet lists 11 accused and includes 96 documents as evidence. The court will review the chargesheet and documents on August 13.
The case pertains to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as railway minister during the UPA-1 government. It is alleged that from 2004 to 2009, many individuals were appointed to Group “D” positions in Indian Railways in return for transferring their land to Prasad’s family and A K Infosystems Private Limited, a company linked to them.
The ED has previously identified A K Infosystems Private Limited as a “beneficiary company” in this case, with its registered office in New Friends Colony, South Delhi, being used by Tejashwi Yadav. Katyal, described as a “close associate” of the Yadav family, is noted as a director of this company. Furthermore, A B Exports Pvt Ltd, owned by Tejashwi Yadav and Chanda Yadav, is alleged to be a “shell company” with its registered address also in New Friends Colony.
The ED has alleged that Rabri Devi and Hema Yadav acquired four land parcels from railway appointees illegally and sold them to Meridian Construction India Ltd., associated with former RJD MLA Syed Abu Dojana. The proceeds from this sale were allegedly laundered through various transactions to A B Exports Pvt Ltd and Bhagirathi Tubes. The ED claims that Rabri Devi and Hema Yadav sold these parcels for Rs 3.5 crore, despite their acquisition cost being Rs 7.5 lakh, thus realizing substantial gains.
In the chargesheet, the ED has requested that the court prosecute the accused for money laundering and seek the confiscation of previously attached assets. This money laundering case, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from a complaint by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has already submitted a chargesheet in the case.
